Varda Space Industries
Varda Space Industries is a Space & ISR company founded in 2020 and based in El Segundo, United States. It has raised $391M in total funding, most recently a Series C in 2026.
Founded in 2020 and headquartered in El Segundo, United States, Varda Space Industries develops W-Series reentry capsules that enable in-space pharmaceutical manufacturing. The company's integrated platform crystallizes small-molecule drugs and biologics in microgravity, where gravity-free conditions produce superior crystal uniformity and purity compared to Earth-based production. Four orbital missions (W-1 through W-4) have been completed or launched as of mid-2025, each carrying Air Force Research Laboratory payloads alongside commercial pharmaceutical experiments. Varda has contracted 20 reentries through Southern Launch projected through 2028. The company has raised $391 million in total capital, including a $250 million Series C round announced in August 2026.
Varda operates as a dual-use defense reentry testbed and commercial pharmaceutical manufacturer, bridging defense and commercial space sectors. The company's platform demonstrates viable in-space crystallization of pharmaceuticals including monoclonal antibodies, establishing a production model not available through terrestrial methods. With $391 million raised and contracted reentry capacity through 2028, Varda represents significant capital deployment in orbital manufacturing infrastructure.
At a glance
Total raised
$391M
Headcount
201-500
Headquarters
El Segundo
United StatesFounded
2020
Status
Private
Subsector
Where Varda Space Industries ranks
Top 25 Defense companies →Funding history
Total raised
$391M
Rounds tracked
4
Latest stage
Series C
| Date | Stage | Amount | Valuation | Lead investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 2026 | Series C | $250M | — | — |
| Apr 5, 2024 | Series B | $90M | — | Caffeinated Capital |